Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Channel Your Inner Anna

Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images for Burberry.

After I saw The September Issue I wanted to know where Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue, got the gorgeous gemstone necklaces she wore throughout the film. Figuring they were the real deal and guessing just how expensive aquamarines (and amethysts and topazes) that size must be, I also wondered if there were any similar necklaces out there in my price range. I got busy on eBay and Google and that, Dear Reader, is how I found the fabulous Nerida at Art for Interiors. She was impressed by those necklaces too and from her I learned that Anna's are original Georgian collet necklaces. Georgian pieces represent a period in jewelry from 1714-1830, running through Kings George I, II, III and IV, and a period of Regency as well. Anna's necklaces quite possibly came from S.J. Phillips Ltd., the London jewelers, and so average around $20,000 each.

Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images North America.

Nerida lives in Hong Kong and has been working on recreating collet necklaces that are similar to Anna's. After trial and error the wonderful results are in and now offered for sale on her site. Each necklace is made with 18mm x 13mm foil-backed Swarovski crystals and, depending on the necklace, you can choose between plain, beaded or tooled mounts. You can also choose any color crystal you like from the Swarovski color chart, although to best compliment the setting Nerida recommends selecting a color that goes well with gold.

My mother bought one recently in topaz, which I visited with over the holidays. It is gorgeous! I wanted to test drive this necklace on a date night with my husband, but unfortunately he and I both came down with the flu and there went date night. I did manage to put on the necklace to model it and take pictures. The necklace my mother bought is 16.5 inches with a 4-inch extender chain and features a beaded mount, which you can see better in the close-up.

You could wear any of these necklaces with a little black dress or mix one with jeans and a T-shirt, or a cardigan and shift dress, just like Anna! I am especially loving the mixed stone amethyst necklace shown above.

Stop by Art for Interiors, click on the red "Shop" button on the upper right hand side and have a look!

11 comments:

What a great and informative post!! And your pictures of the necklace are wonderful. Please come back and stay well and wear it out! Now I'm pining for another--maybe the aquamarine, although the amethyst looks awfully tempting as well...Thanks for writing a great piece on a gorgeous necklace. M.

Hi Mom! I could sure use some free Grandma babysitting right about now. I think either the aquamarine or amethyst would be so beautiful. I just love what Nerida has been able to create with these necklaces.

Hi Sarah, I would love a re-do on Date Night but my mother lives in Virginia and babysitting fees are SO expensive here. Oh well. I'd probably go for amethyst when I get one of these necklaces. Or wait, maybe a deep blue? So hard to choose because the Swarovski chart goes on forever and I love so many of the colors.

Hi Veshoevius, yes Anna W.'s collet necklaces are too expensive for me so hurray for Nerida! We are recovered from the flu for now. BTW, I have been loving your recent posts on what all the fashion magazines are doing wrong these days. Hear hear!

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